06-21-2011, 08:41 PM
While it is conceivable that the very first scissor (some prefer the term arbelas for this type of gladiator)was a gladiator who had lost a hand and had it replaced with a prosthesis (think Captain Hook)it is very unlikely that it was a regular practice. for one thing, the crescent-and-gauntlet device is always depicted on the left arm. Nineteen out of twenty gladiators had their left arms and hands protected by the shield and was about the only part of the body that was relatively safe.
